New Music Video Production (MVP) Project Names Recipients

By FYI Staff

RBC and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (The Canadian Academy) have announced the nine grant recipients of a new initiative called the MVP Project that provides funding and networking support to musicians and filmmakers for music video creation and production.

The MVP Project, established in 2018, in a partnership between RBCxMusic and the Prism Prize, administered by The Canadian Academy, was created to enable Canadians in creative industries to explore their musicianship, hone their filmmaking skills, and further their career growth. It is expected to help fill the void left by the cancellation of the MuchFACT program.

Beginning last October, Canadians who identified themselves as “Emerging Artists” were encouraged to submit their music and video treatments to a peer-based jury of music and media professionals. As recipients in the first round of the MVP Project, the artists and directors will receive mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as funding support through music video production grants.

“It has been great working with The Academy and this incredibly knowledgeable group of jury members to identify the talented recipients of the first round of grants,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President of Brand Marketing, RBC. “The quality of work submitted from the artists and directors who applied was remarkable, and we can’t wait to see how these video concepts come to life.”

Recipients include:

Recording artist, Beatchild and the Slakadeliqs, Producer, Rinku DasGupta and Director, Dan LeMoyne (Toronto, ON)

Recording artist, GOVI, Producer, Imad Elsheikh and Director, Jorden Lee (Ajax, ON)

Recording artist, Jeremy Dutcher, Producer, Julie Baldassi and Director, Chandler Levack (Toronto, ON)

Recording artist, Jordan Klassen, Producer, Shelby Manton and Director, Farhad Ghaderi (Vancouver, BC)

Recording artists, Milk & Bone, Producer, Sébastien Hotte and Director, Soleil Denault (Montreal, QC)

Recording artist and Director, Sean Leon, Producer Noor Khan (Scarborough, ON)

Recording artist, Tim Baker and Director/Producer, Jordan Canning (St. John’s, NL)

Recording artist, Wild Black (Saskatoon, SK), Producer, Lindsay Goeldner,and Directors, Lulu Wei and Lindsay Goeldner (Toronto, ON)

In addition to these recipients, a portion of funds from each MVP Project funding round will be allotted to a Curated Music Video Production, commissioning a piece from one recording artist/director team who have successfully collaborated in the past. For this first round, the recipients are recording artist, Jessie Reyez and director, Peter Huang.

“We were thrilled to receive more than 300 applications from regions right across the country, showing there is a real need and appetite for music video funding,” said Beth Janson, CEO, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “We have such a diverse talent pool of musicians and directors in Canada, and it was great to see that come through in the submissions.”

"I was honoured to be a juror for the first round of the MVP Project, as it is picking up where past music video funding programs left off, while creating its own identity,” said Winston Hacking, music video director and MVP Project jury member. “It’s supporting the next generation of video vanguards across Canada's diverse music community."

Music from all genres was represented within the submissions. The top four most-popular categories were Pop (22.2%), Rock (12%), R&B (10.5%) and Hip Hop (10.2%). Regionally, Ontario had the largest representation, with Quebec and Western provinces following.

“The MVP Project grant is both timely and necessary, providing support for creative collaboration between musicians and filmmakers,” said Jordan Canning, director and MVP Project grant recipient. “With the help of MVP, media and music-based artists will be enabled to work together across distance and difference, to bring new voices, partnerships and ideas to audiences across the country.”

The music video has become more vital than ever, as an art form, as a platform, as a marketing tool,” said Tim Baker, a recording artist collaborating with fellow MVP Project grant recipient Jordan Canning. “I’m delighted that the MVP Project has stepped up to fulfill the need for creative music video support in Canada, and of course even more delighted to find out we received a grant from them for our video, Dance.“

The MVP project is part of the RBC Emerging Artists Project, which helps Canadian artists bridge the gap from emerging to established, and supports organizations that provide opportunities to advance their career.

The next round of submissions will open on January 15. For more information, visit mvpproject.ca.